The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Monday that New York’s only Republican-held congressional district in New York City will not have to be redrawn ahead of the 2026 elections, blocking a lower court order that found the current boundaries disadvantage Black and Hispanic voters.
In a decision split along ideological lines, the court’s conservative majority halted a state ruling that would have required the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the district represented by Nicole Malliotakis, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
The order marks a win for Republicans as control of the closely divided United States House of Representatives remains at stake nationwide. New York Republicans, along with the Trump administration, had asked the high court to intervene as candidate qualifying for the next election cycle got underway.
The justices did not explain their reasoning, as is common in emergency appeals. However, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the lower court’s decision amounted to unconstitutional racial discrimination. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing the federal court should not step into a state election dispute so close to an election.
Malliotakis praised the decision, calling it a safeguard against what she described as efforts to manipulate district lines for political gain.
The case is part of a broader national redistricting fight, with both parties pursuing map changes in states including Texas and California. The Supreme Court has allowed new maps in both states to be used while legal challenges continue.
